We're just a few weeks away from the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The Edmonton Oilers have stocked the cupboards with #1 overall's and many picks inside the top 100 since 2010, and this year's draft will feature three early picks (unless there's a trade). There's a very good chance we know their names as of today: the NHL combine list has been released.

If we go back over the past 5 seasons and match the Combine list against the Oilers picks inside the top 100, we come up with the following:

2008 Oilers draft

Jordan Eberle selected #22 overall, ranked #29 (attended combine)

Johan Motin selected #103 overall, unranked (attended combine)

Phil Cornet selected #133 overall

Teemu Hartikainen selected #163 overall

Jordan Bendfeld selected #193 overall

2009 Oilers draft

Magnus Paajarvi selected #10 overall, ranked #10 (attended combine)

Anton Lander selected #40 overall, ranked HM (attended combine)

Troy Hesketh selected #71 overall

Cameron Abney selected #82 overall

Kyle Bigos selected #99 overall

Toni Rajala selected #101 overall, ranked #50 (attended combine)

Olivier Roy selected #133 overall, ranked HM (attended combine)

2010 Oilers draft

Taylor Hall selected #1, ranked #1 (attended combine)

Tyler Pitlick selected #31, ranked #25 (attended combine)

Martin Marincin selected #56, ranked #71 (attended combine)

Curtis Hamilton selected #48, ranked 57 (attended combine)

Ryan Martindale selected #61, ranked 58 (attended combine)

Jeremie Blain selected #91

Tyler Bunz selected #121, not ranked (attended combine)

Brandon Davidson selected #162, not ranked (attended combine)

Drew Czerwonka selected #166

Kristians Pelss selected #181

Kellen Jones selected #202

2011 Oilers draft

Ryan Nugent Hopkins selected #1, ranked #1 (attended combine)

Oscar Klefbom selected #19, ranked #21 (attended combine)

David Musil selected #31, ranked #41 (attended combine)

Samu Perhonen selected #62, ranked #51 (attended combine)

Travis Ewanyk selected #74, ranked HM (attended combine)

Dillon Simpson selected #92

Tobias Rieder selected #114, unranked (attended combine)

Martin Gernat selected #122

Frans Tuohimaa selected #182

2012 Oilers draft

Nail Yakupov selected #1, ranked #1 (attended combine)

Mitchell Moroz selected #32, ranked #56 (attended combine)

Jujhar Khaira selected #63, not ranked (attended combine)

Daniil Zharkov selected #91, ranked #47 (attended combine)

Erik Gustafsson selected #93

Joey Laleggia selected #123

John McCarron selected #153

A few notes:

Since 2008, when making a selection inside the top 100 players, Edmonton has selected a player who was not at the combine 6 times: Troy Hesketh, Cameron Abney, Kyle Bigos, Jeremie Blain, Dillon Simpson, Erik Gustafsson. Although Simpson is a solid to very good prospect, it is not an impressive group.

We shouldn’t expect this to be an area of strength, this is “drafting for need” and rarely works out. However, it's interesting to note just how many (Hesketh, Bigos, Blain) were not extended contracts. Only Cam Abney has a signed pro contract (with the Oilers) from the group.

THIS YEAR'S LIST

I have highlighted players (with some notes) the possible Oiler targets. Edmonton's draft picks for the top 100 this summer are (at this time) #7, #37 and somewhere around #58 (ANA pick for Cogliano). List and NHL blog is here.

North American skaters

Rank - Player

Team (League)

Position

1 - Seth Jones

Portland (WHL)

D

2 - Nathan MacKinnon

Halifax (QMJHL)

C

3 - Jonathan Drouin

Halifax (QMJHL)

LW

4 - Darnell Nurse

Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

D

5 - Sean Monahan: fine -way center

Ottawa (OHL)

C

6 - Hunter Shinkaruk

Medicine Hat (WHL)

C/LW

7 - Valentin Zykov

Baie - Comeau (QMJHL)

LW

8 - Frederik Gauthier

Rimouski (QMJHL)

C

9 - Mirco Mueller

Everett (WHL)

D

10 - Anthony Mantha-scorer with size

Val - d'Or (QMJHL)

RW

11 - Shea Theodore

Seattle (WHL)

D

12 - Ryan Pulock

Brandon (WHL)

D

13 - Zach Nastasiuk

Owen Sound (OHL)

RW

14 - Chris Bigras

Owen Sound (OHL)

D

15 - Bo Horvat

London (OHL)

C

16 - Ryan Hartman

Plymouth (OHL)

RW

17 - Kerby Rychel: size, skill, grit

Windsor (OHL)

LW

18 - Wiliam Carrier

Cape Breton (QMJHL)

LW

19 - Max Domi: impressive finish

London (OHL)

C/LW

20 - Curtis Lazar: insider knowledge

Edmonton (WHL)

C/LW

21 - James Lodge

Saginaw (OHL)

C

22 - Nikita Zadorov: Mountain on skates

London (OHL)

D

23 - Samuel Morin

Rimouski (QMJHL)

D

24 - Ian McCoshen

Waterloo (USHL)

D

25 - Morgan Klimchuk

Regina (WHL)

LW

26 - Adam Erne

Quebec (QMJHL)

LW

27 - Joshua Morrissey

Prince Albert (WHL)

D

28 - Laurent Dauphin

Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

C

29 - Jon Hayden

USA U - 18 (USHL)

C

30 - Jason Dickinson

Guelph (OHL)

C

31 - Dillon Heatherington

Swift Current (WHL)

D

32 - Madison Bowey: 2-way prospect

Kelowna (WHL)

D

33 - Nicolas Petan: small, skilled

Portland (WHL)

C

34 - JT Compher: Skill

USA U - 18 (USHL)

LW

35 - Michael McCarron: Bull in china shop

USA U - 18 (USHL)

RW

36 - Oliver Bjorkstrand

Portland (WHL)

RW

37 - Jonathan - Ismael Diaby

Victoriaville (QMJHL)

D

38 - Justin Bailey

Kitchener (OHL)

RW

39 - Emile Poirier

Gatineau (QMJHL)

LW

40 - Brett Pesce

New Hampshire (H - East)

D

41 - Eric Roy

Brandon (WHL)

D

42 - Adam Tambellini

Surrey (BCHL)

C

43 - Jan Kostalek

Rimouski (QMJHL)

D

44 - Thomas Vanelli

Minnetonka (High - Mn)

D

45 - Connor Hurley

Edina High (High - Mn)

C

46 - Myles Bell

Kelowna (WHL)

LW

47 - Steven Santini: 2-way D, size, mean

USA U - 18 (USHL)

D

48 - Nick Sorensen

Quebec (QMJHL)

RW

49 - Michael Downing

Dubuque (USHL)

D

50 - Yan Pavel Laplante

PEI (QMJHL)

C

51 - Gustav Olofsson

Green Bay (USHL)

D

52 - Gabryel Paquin - Boudreau

Baie - Comeau (QMJHL)

LW

53 - Keaton Thompson

USA U - 18 (USHL)

D

54 - Marc - Olivier Roy

Blainville - Boisbriand (QMJHL)

C

55 - Jordan Subban

Belleville (OHL)

D

56 - Ryan Fitzgerald

Valley (EJHL)

C

57 - Anthony Duclair

Quebec (QMJHL)

LW

58 - Nick Moutrey

Saginaw (OHL)

C/LW

59 - Mason Geertsen

Vancouver (WHL)

D

60 - Zachary Sanford

Islanders (EJHL)

LW

61 - Nicholas Baptiste

Sudbury (OHL)

RW

62 - Sean Malone

USA U - 18 (USHL)

C

63 - Ryan Kujawinski

Kingston (OHL)

C

64 - Teemu Kivihalme

Burnsville (High - Mn)

D

65 - Jackson Houck

Vancouver (WHL)

RW

66 - Tyler Lewington

Medicine Hat (WHL)

D

67 - David Pope: plus size, plus shot

West Kelowna (BCHL)

LW

68 - Alexandre Coulombe

Stanstead College (High - Qc)

D

69 - Michell Wheaton

Kelowna (WHL)

D

70 - Hudson Fasching

USA U - 18 (USHL)

RW

71 - Remi Elie

London (OHL)

LW

72 - Kurt Etchegary

Quebec (QMJHL)

C

73 - Vincent Dunn

Val - d'Or (QMJHL)

C

74 - Dylan Labbe

Shawinigan (QMJHL)

D

75 - Anthony Florentino

South Kent School (High - Ct)

D

76 - Spenser Jensen

Medicine Hat (WHL)

D

77 - Avery Peterson

Grand Rapids (High - Mn)

C

78 - Ty Stanton

Medicine Hat (WHL)

D

79 - Jeremy Gregoire

Baie - Comeau (QMJHL)

C

1 - Zachary Fucale

Halifax (QMJHL)

G

2 - Eric Comrie

Tri - City (WHL)

G

3 - Tristan Jarry

Edmonton (WHL)

G

4 - Calvin Petersen

Waterloo (USHL)

G

5 - Spencer Martin

Mississauga (OHL)

G

6 - Eamon McAdam

Waterloo (USHL)

G

7 - Philippe Desrosiers

Rimouski (QMJHL)

G

European skaters

Rank - Player

Team (League)

Position

1 - Aleksander Barkov

Tappara (Finland)

C

2 - Valeri Nichushkin

Chelyabinsk (Russia)

RW

3 - Elias Lindholm: ridiculous skill

Brynas (Sweden)

C

4 - Rasmus Ristolainen: 2-way D

TPS (Finland)

D

5 - Alexander Wennberg

Djurgarden (Sweden)

C

6 - Andre Burakovsky

Malmo (Sweden)

LW

7 - Jacob De La Rose

Leksand (Sweden)

LW

8 - Robert Hagg

Modo Jr. (Sweden)

D

9 - Artturi Lehkonen: skill

Kalpa (Finland)

LW

10 - Pavel Buchnevich

Cherepovets 2 (Russia)

LW

11 - Bogdan Yakimov

Nizhnekamsk 2 (Russia)

C

12 - Marko Dano

Bratislava (Russia)

C

13 - Linus Arnesson

Djurgarden (Sweden)

D

14 - Viktor Crus Rydberg

Linkoping Jr. (Sweden)

C

1 - Juuse Saros

HPK Jr. (Finland)

G

Lowetide has been one of the Oilogosphere's shining lights for over a century. You can check him out here at OilersNation and at lowetide.ca. He is also the host of Lowdown with Lowetide weekday mornings 10-noon on TSN 1260.

Here are the players I think who down the road will show that they were taken too high:

Seth Jones. I put him simply cause I think he'll go number one when MacKinnon should go number one and because based on history, I bet he won't be the best defenseman from the draft class. He will be a good defender.

Zachary Fucale. Seriously how is he ranked as the best goalie? Spent most of the season with a sub .900 save percentage, got it just above at the end. People say he'll be good cause he has so many wins. When his team was ranked number one in the CHL. Has not looked good at the top prospect game or so far at the memorial cup.

Sean Monahan. Another player I think will be good. Anyone with foot speed issues scares me a little. I think people who have him projected as a 1a or great #2 center an might be let down. He might just be a Shawn Horcoff. We'll see. He is sort of only picked cause if players move up, some have to move down.

Players I think will cause teams to kick themselves over passing on them:

Max Domi. Crazy skill. So far has out performed Ty Rattie by considerabe margins comparing them year to year. My pick for "should have gone top 5". Height only concern however he is built thick and plays hard. His numbers the next two years of junior will be off the charts.

Kerby Rychel. What is not to love about this player? Back to back 40 goal, over a point per game seasons leading up to his draft year while having good size and a nasty physical edge to his game. Hits, fights, scores. On a brutal team. He'll be the top six power forward every team covets. Mostly I get mad at the lack of respect he gets. Mock drafts and rankings having him in the 20's, and Pronman has him in the 40's! Ridiculous!

Ryan Pulock. Simply astronomical points for a 16 year old defenseman last year: GP 71 G 19 A 41 P 60 +33. This year his stats took a hit but not significantly since he missed games due to injury and his team went from being a second round playoff team last year to being beyond terrible this year. Good size 6'1. Already 210 pounds. And unlike pure offensive Defensemen like the Ryan Murphy's of the world that are defensive liabilities. His scouting reports read that he is a solid reliable all around d-man. My bet for steal of the draft

Here are the players I think who down the road will show that they were taken too high:

Seth Jones. I put him simply cause I think he'll go number one when MacKinnon should go number one and because based on history, I bet he won't be the best defenseman from the draft class. He will be a good defender.

Zachary Fucale. Seriously how is he ranked as the best goalie? Spent most of the season with a sub .900 save percentage, got it just above at the end. People say he'll be good cause he has so many wins. When his team was ranked number one in the CHL. Has not looked good at the top prospect game or so far at the memorial cup.

Sean Monahan. Another player I think will be good. Anyone with foot speed issues scares me a little. I think people who have him projected as a 1a or great #2 center an might be let down. He might just be a Shawn Horcoff. We'll see. He is sort of only picked cause if players move up, some have to move down.

Players I think will cause teams to kick themselves over passing on them:

Max Domi. Crazy skill. So far has out performed Ty Rattie by considerabe margins comparing them year to year. My pick for "should have gone top 5". Height only concern however he is built thick and plays hard. His numbers the next two years of junior will be off the charts.

Kerby Rychel. What is not to love about this player? Back to back 40 goal, over a point per game seasons leading up to his draft year while having good size and a nasty physical edge to his game. Hits, fights, scores. On a brutal team. He'll be the top six power forward every team covets. Mostly I get mad at the lack of respect he gets. Mock drafts and rankings having him in the 20's, and Pronman has him in the 40's! Ridiculous!

Ryan Pulock. Simply astronomical points for a 16 year old defenseman last year: GP 71 G 19 A 41 P 60 +33. This year his stats took a hit but not significantly since he missed games due to injury and his team went from being a second round playoff team last year to being beyond terrible this year. Good size 6'1. Already 210 pounds. And unlike pure offensive Defensemen like the Ryan Murphy's of the world that are defensive liabilities. His scouting reports read that he is a solid reliable all around d-man. My bet for steal of the draft

Excellent post David, I totally agree 100% with you. I wouldn't have a problem with the Oilers trading down for one of the guys you mentioned. To be honest, if they can't trade up to get Barkov which is what I would like to see them do, then trade down for one of the three you mentioned.

I think if the Oilers have the chance to draft Elias Lindholm, they will. Everyone seems to be over looking him a bit because of the depth of this draft, but this kid has a TON of skill.
People aren't realizing he actually has a decent defensive part to his game, and can be really physical.

Taylor Cammarata - all 5 ft. 6 in. -150lbs. of him. An offensive dynamo . The race is on to see who gets him . One less goal than Crosby at Shattenkirk - 70 , but in 5 less games than Sidney's 71 . Coveted by the Flames by the sounds of it .

Taylor Cammarata - all 5 ft. 6 in. -150lbs. of him. An offensive dynamo . The race is on to see who gets him . One less goal than Crosby at Shattenkirk - 70 , but in 5 less games than Sidney's 71 . Coveted by the Flames by the sounds of it .

i REALLY hope the Oil can score Michael McCarron with pick #37. yes, he's a bit high to be taken there, but if he ever turns out, big, tough, mean and has some skill...he'd be what we have been looking for up front for a long time!

Here are the players I think who down the road will show that they were taken too high:

Seth Jones. I put him simply cause I think he'll go number one when MacKinnon should go number one and because based on history, I bet he won't be the best defenseman from the draft class. He will be a good defender.

Zachary Fucale. Seriously how is he ranked as the best goalie? Spent most of the season with a sub .900 save percentage, got it just above at the end. People say he'll be good cause he has so many wins. When his team was ranked number one in the CHL. Has not looked good at the top prospect game or so far at the memorial cup.

Sean Monahan. Another player I think will be good. Anyone with foot speed issues scares me a little. I think people who have him projected as a 1a or great #2 center an might be let down. He might just be a Shawn Horcoff. We'll see. He is sort of only picked cause if players move up, some have to move down.

Players I think will cause teams to kick themselves over passing on them:

Max Domi. Crazy skill. So far has out performed Ty Rattie by considerabe margins comparing them year to year. My pick for "should have gone top 5". Height only concern however he is built thick and plays hard. His numbers the next two years of junior will be off the charts.

Kerby Rychel. What is not to love about this player? Back to back 40 goal, over a point per game seasons leading up to his draft year while having good size and a nasty physical edge to his game. Hits, fights, scores. On a brutal team. He'll be the top six power forward every team covets. Mostly I get mad at the lack of respect he gets. Mock drafts and rankings having him in the 20's, and Pronman has him in the 40's! Ridiculous!

Ryan Pulock. Simply astronomical points for a 16 year old defenseman last year: GP 71 G 19 A 41 P 60 +33. This year his stats took a hit but not significantly since he missed games due to injury and his team went from being a second round playoff team last year to being beyond terrible this year. Good size 6'1. Already 210 pounds. And unlike pure offensive Defensemen like the Ryan Murphy's of the world that are defensive liabilities. His scouting reports read that he is a solid reliable all around d-man. My bet for steal of the draft

"Max Domi. Crazy skill. So far has out performed Ty Rattie by considerabe margins"

Reeeeheeeheeealy!!! Are you fu%$in high?? what the hell are you watching dude? have you not seen Ty Rattie goals? or are you a little Bias becasue he's playing on an Americam team?

To be fair I have no idea if Domi got more opportunity than Rattie ( I don't think so) and Rattie's last two seasons have been amazing and Domi will be hard pressed to match. But Domi preformed better than Rattie's first two years. And his skill is evident.

Is Lazar play inflated by his team? I watched a lot of Oil Kings games and came to the conclusion that while Lazar is good, his team made him better.

These other players aside from Horvat, all come from mid to low end teams which they all put up impressive numbers.

It may not mean much but it has to have some effect.

Lazar is where you and I cannot agree. Watching the Oil Kings in the Playoffs I noticed the same thing every single game. Lazar's line and Lazar in particular drove the play, and when they were on the bench the Oil Kings chances were at a minimum. I found myself without any hope the Oil kings would score if Lazar wasn't on. His finish wasn't there in the playoffs and that could be a concern. But Lazar is a player that isn't restricted to if he wasn't on the score sheet, he wasn't a factor. That's not Lazar. He wins face offs, he hits everything, he hustles back to play defense, and he creates scoring chances. Tons of speed, tons of heart. I think next season will tell a much clearer story once he's on the first line and has to carry the load offensively. Will he be up to it? We'll see.

To be fair I have no idea if Domi got more opportunity than Rattie ( I don't think so) and Rattie's last two seasons have been amazing and Domi will be hard pressed to match. But Domi preformed better than Rattie's first two years. And his skill is evident.

No I don't. That's why I said I don't know if they got equal opportunity. Both were on loaded teams. Rattie would be playing behind, Niederreirer, Johanson, and Baertchi. Domi would be playing behind Namestnikov, McKegg, Knight, and Griffith. I suspect it would be close. But I don't know.